WORLD champ Joe Calzaghe is being comforted by fashion designer Julien Macdonald's stunning blonde cousin after splitting from his wife.

WORLD champ Joe Calzaghe is being comforted by fashion designer Julien Macdonald's stunning blonde cousin after splitting from his wife.

The Newbridge fighter, who has been seen out with 22-year-old singer Justine Jones, said his 10-year-marriage had just "reached the end of the road".

But last night the dad-of-four denied there was any romance between him and the Merthyr Tydfil beauty.

Speaking to Wales on Sunday he said: "She's a friend of a friend. I'm not seeing her, definitely not. There's no-one else involved.

"I've spoken to Justine a few times but there's nothing going on. I'm categorically not going out with anyone else."

A close friend of Justine's revealed: "They've been out on the Cardiff party circuit together. Justine is a great girl, really lovely and down to earth.

"She thinks the world of Joe. They've had a drink together in Cardiff hot spots like No10 and Life, places like that.

"She's doing really well in London and has always moved in the same circles as a lot of the Welsh sports stars. Everyone likes Justine. She's got a great sense of humour and is always right at the centre of the fun."

Last night, Joe admitted he and his wife had "reached the end of the road".

Both say the painful break-up is amicable and they have vowed to stay close for the sake of their three young children.

Joe, 32, said: "It's just one of those things. It was better to move on and at the end of the day, all that matters is the children.

"We just reached the end of the road, there's no-one else involved.

"Mandy and I were together for a long time and we're still on talking terms.

"We'll stay close and we'll still see each other. The most important thing is the boys."

Last night Mandy, 33, said: "I've spoken to Joe. When you are in the spotlight you talk to someone and all of a sudden they are having a full-blown relationship.

"Joe can do what he likes now, it's none of my business, but Joe says he knows her because she works for a club he goes to.

"I told him, 'You're going to have to get used to the fact that girls are going to come out of the woodwork'. I knew this was going to happen.

"I've been in toilets and girls have been talking about him, saying so-and-so went out with Joe. I never believed them but I said to him, 'Joe, you're a guy, as long as they say you are good in bed, don't worry about it'. Who cares at the end of the day."

Talking about the separation, Mandy said: "It's very difficult. It's one of the worst things that can happen to you.

"There's nothing more painful - it's like a bereavement."

The news comes ahead of one of the biggest fights of Joe's life, when he takes on Glengoffe Johnson on June 5, in his first shot at the light-heavyweight title.

Mandy has gone home to mum in Tredegar while she looks for a house of her own.

The couple's three boys, Cole, 14, nine-year-old Joe and Connor, six, are staying with their dad but Mandy said they will share custody.

"They will be fine," said Mandy.

"I wouldn't want to wish this on anybody but we had to do the best thing for the boys.

"That's all we care about.

"They know Joe and I get on fine and that we've always been close."

The couple met on Boxing Day 11 years ago, when Joe was still virtually unknown in the fighting world.

They married a year later, when Joe was just 21 and Mandy was pregnant with their son, Joe.

They didn't enjoy such a luxurious lifestyle then, and couldn't even afford to go on honeymoon.

But four years later, in 1997, Joe became WBO super-middleweight world champion after beating Chris Eubank and their fortunes changed.

In 1999, they finally enjoyed their honeymoon in Barbados.

The marriage was not without its problems - Joe's rapid rise to the top put pressure on the relationship.

In 1999, Mandy revealed it was not always easy to deal with Joe's career.

"He used to be like a bear with a sore head before a fight," she said. "He would get all worked up and there would be tension at home."

Mandy gave up her own showbiz ambitions after meeting the Welsh-Italian.

She studied drama and music at Pontypool College and used to sing in local bands.

But since becoming Mrs Calzaghe, she has reserved her talents for karaoke.

Instead, she devoted her time to bringing up their three children, and supporting Joe's astounding career.

She said: "Going to all his fights, you do have to make sure you put yourself tidy for the night but I'm not into big, glamorous dresses.

"Because I was with Joe and standing at his side I know all the press and photographers will be there.

"When people look at boxers they also look at their wives. It is showbusiness in a way, especially on a big night."

Both have hinted that marrying so young may have been a mistake.

Mandy said: "These things happen. We were together for a long time. We got together when we were very young and we were together every day, day in, day out.

"But we both agreed that this needed to happen."

And in a Wales on Sunday interview last month there was a hint of regret when Joe spoke of putting his career second to his family.

Joe, who won BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year in 2002 and was awarded an MBE for services to sport last year, admitted: "In hindsight, I probably should have moved to America when I was younger.

"But it is not really my personality as I settled down quite young, got married and started a family when I was still a teenager.

"It would have been difficult to uproot everything, but you never know how things will turn out."

After the sadness of the split, both are optimistic they will be able to move on with their lives.

Joe will focus on his next challenge in the ring and Mandy plans to start her own career.

"I'm going to get myself a job," she said. "I don't know what I'll do because I've never had a job before, but I'm really looking forward to it," she said.

"All the boys are in school, and I've always been a full-time housewife and mum. Even if I do some volunteer work, it will be good to do something for myself."